MANILA — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday revealed fresh allegations of extortion involving the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), adding to a growing list of controversies faced by the agency.
In a radio interview on DZBB, Lacson said a contractor was allegedly threatened with the non-renewal of his license unless he paid at least ₱1 million.
“It was a clear case of extortion,” Lacson said in Filipino. “He was told his license wouldn’t be renewed unless he paid up.”
The senator said the information came from sources close to the contractor, whose identity he did not disclose. He also mentioned another claim—still subject to verification—where a contractor allegedly paid ₱7 million to secure first-time accreditation with PCAB.
Lacson urged those with knowledge of such transactions to come forward and cooperate with ongoing investigations.
Pattern of Alleged Corruption
The extortion claim follows Lacson’s privilege speech on August 20, where he accused PCAB of running an “accreditation for sale” scheme. According to Lacson, several contractors had informed him that PCAB officials offered to facilitate their paperwork in exchange for payments of at least ₱2 million.
PCAB has denied the accusations, but Lacson said the agency has yet to explain how certain contractors managed to secure accreditation under questionable circumstances.
Over the weekend, Lacson also pointed to a possible conflict of interest involving two PCAB board members—Engineers Erni Baggao and Arthur Escalante—who, he said, own construction companies that have been awarded government contracts, while also signing off on licenses for other contractors.
Escalante reportedly defended his position by citing the PCAB’s enabling law, passed in the 1960s, which he claims requires board members to be contractors themselves.
But Lacson countered the argument, citing Section 9 of Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The law states that public officials must avoid conflicts of interest and, upon assuming office, must resign from any private enterprise or divest their interests within 30 to 60 days.
“If we follow Escalante’s reasoning, that would mean a lawyer appointed as a judge can continue running his law firm. That’s clearly flawed,” Lacson said. “He may need legal advice himself, because he could be in violation of RA 6713.”
PCAB, which operates under the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), is responsible for issuing licenses and regulating contractors nationwide.
Lacson has not ruled out filing formal complaints against those involved.
